Season 2 of the V10 R-League is almost here, and we can't wait to see the teams and drivers putting the pedal to the metal again!
A team that only started in 2020, YAS HEAT came into Season 1 as underdogs, but now they have proven they belong. So can they turn up the heat on the competition this season?
Season 1
As a fresh-faced outfit, YAS HEAT wasn't expected to compete with the big guns in Season 1. However, they were always competitive and were able to take a point from their Round 2 clash with eventual runners-up Williams.
YAS finished seventh in the standings at the end of the season. This may seem underwhelming, but they were only two points off sixth.
They regularly pushed the more established teams, and with a little more luck on their side could have easily been further up the league standings.
Drivers
Season 2 will see YAS HEAT completely overhaul their driver lineup.
Stepping into the cockpit is a trio of highly experienced esports pros in Simon Weigang, Cedric Thome, and Manuel Biancolilla.
YAS has also completed a regional talent search for drivers of the future, bringing in five talented young Middle Eastern & Asian racers to develop.
With a partnership with Microsoft also announced during the off-season, things are definitely looking up for YAS HEAT!
Season 2 expectations
YAS was on the wrong end of some close battles last season, but with a new driver lineup they should be more competitive.
That said, they basically revert to rookie status this year, as their lineup lacks the experience of the V10 R-League that other teams now have.
YAS HEAT's chances all rest on how quickly their new drivers can get up to speed. If they stumble in the first few weeks YAS could easily find themselves missing out on the playoffs, as there are only four races before the knockout stages.
We all expect YAS HEAT to be picking the Yas Marina circuit as their home track throughout the season, but with the ban-pick system, they better have a second choice up their sleeve!
The new format of the V10 R-League certainly favours the brave and YAS HEAT has been extremely bold with their driver choices. They're an outfit that can beat anybody on their day, and could certainly surprise people if their new lineup settles quickly.
How to watch
V10 R-League Season 2 kicks off on Monday, 12 April.
Viewers in the UK can watch all the action from the best matchup of the week on BT Sport every Monday, with the remaining matches shown throughout the week!
Fans in the Middle East and North Africa can get all the action through StarzPlay.
ESPN will be showing the races to all those in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, and Oceania.
Make sure to check local listings and video-on-demand services for exact times!
